Flat-platen moving and controlling means



Oct. 8, 1929.

JYCJ.

H. A. FOOTHORAF 1,730,567

FLAT PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 3 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 8, 1929. FoOTHo-RAP 1,730,567

FLAT PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 5 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J'wue'n To l.

Oct. 8, 1929. H. A. FOOTHORAP 1,730,567

FLAT PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 3 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 152777119521 0 ofhorap i U N K Oct. 8, 1929. H. A. FOOTHORAP FLAT PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 5 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 8, 1929. H. A. FOOTHORAP FI AT PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS File M y 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 PATENT: OFFICE HARRY FOO'IHOBAP, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT- IISHEB COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FLAT-PLATEN MOVING AND CONTROLLING MEANS Applieation filed m 3, 1924. Serial no. 710,805.

This invention relates to a movable flat platen and platen moving and controlling means.

The object of the invention is to provide a fiat platen typewriter with a platen which is movable relative to the printing mechanism for line spacing and depressible from the writing plane to release the work, and simple and effective mechanism for moving the platen both horizontally and vertically.

Subordinate objects of the invention are to absorb the shockincident to the arrest of the platen when retracted to normal position and to provide improved mechanism for both manually and automatically controlling the line spacing movements ofthe platen.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flat platen typewriter equipped in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a, plan view of the same with the carriage removed.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the traveling platen structure.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section viewed from one side.

Fig. 5 is a similar section viewed from the opposite side.

Fig. 6 is a detail section of one of the platen arresting plungers or shock absorbers.

Fig. 7 is a detail section of a portion of the line spacing mechanism.

Figs. 8 and 9 are details of the line spacing mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through one side of the main frame.

Fig. 11'is a detail view of the line spacing dog and associated parts, and

Fig. 12 is a somewhat more extended view of the line spacing mechanism with the spacing dog in normal position and the holding dog in engagement with the rack.

Referring to the reference designations on the drawings, A is a stationary main frame on which travels transversely a carriage B equipped with typewriting mechanism and various usual appurtenances, and C indicates a platen frame movable longitudinally in the main frame Aand carrying with it a platen D which supports the paper in fiat spread out condition as is common in this type of machines. The frame A is composed of longitudinal members 1 and 2 and transverse members 3 and 4 all united in any suitable manner to form a rigid supporting structure for the movable printing mechanism and the movable paper supporting means. The slideble mounting of the platen supporting frame C in the mam frame A is secured by providing the frame C with slides 5 engaging grooves or channels 6 in the longitudinal frame members 1 and 2, guide rollers 7 being also interposed to permit ease of movement. The platen frame G is under tension, being normally urged toward the forward limit of its movement by a sprin drum 8 on which is wound a platen propelling tape 9 having its ends secured to a pin 10 on the frame A.

The platen D is overhung at its side edges by paper holding clamps or flanges 11 and is yieldingly supported upon springs 12 mounted in the platen supporting frame. Normally, that is during the writing operation, the springs 12 hold the platen elevated in the writing plane with the work sheets gripped between the platen and the clamps 11. It is contemplated, however, that upon the completion of the writing operation the platen frame is released, in a manner to be described, and is drawn swiftly forward to permit the displacement, replacement or adjustment of the work sheets. It is also con templated that this movement of the platen back to normal position under the impulse of the platen propelling motor will effect the automatic depression of the platen, as shown in Fig. 5, to release the work. This end is attained by mounting a platen depressing yoke 13 in the platen frame, the side members 13 and 13 of the yoke being mounted on a fulcrum bar 14 and having their rear ends pivotally secured to brackets 15 fixed to the under side of the platen. The front ends of the members 13 and 13 are extended below the plane of the members and connected by a stop bar 16.

It is intended that as the platen approaches the forward limit of its movement the rear end of the yoke 13 will be moved up, thus it the platen. To secure this result, a pair of rubber or other suitable blocks 17 are mounted at the outer sides of the yoke members 13 and 13 to engage a pair of fixed platen depressing cams 18 carried by the frame A. As the platen approaches the limit of its forward movement the blocks 17 engage and ride up the cams 18 and finally come to rest upon dwells 19 atthe upper ends of the cams (see Fig. 5). The blocks 17 are formed of rubber for the purpose of absorbing a considerable portion of the shock incident to the engagement of the blocks with the cams, and it will be obvious that incident to the movement of the blocks up the cams the movement of the platen will be retarded so that it will come gradually to rest. This retardation cannot be wholly relied upon, however, because the carriage propelling motor must be suiiiciently strong to insure the complete travel of the blocks 17 in order to properly accomplish the complete depression of the platen.

It is therefore desirable to employ additional shock absorbing means in the form of spring pressed plungers 20, carried by the frame A and interposed in the path of movement of the stop bar 16 of the yoke 13 so that the final movement of the platen will be opposed by these plungers which will bring it to rest Without shock.

Attention is directed to the fact that since the cams 18 in cooperation with the yoke 13 coact to effect the initial retardation of the platen and since this retarded movement is necessarily accomplished by swinging movement of the yoke 13 which is opposed by the platen springs 12, said springs perform the dual function of means for moving the platen vertically and means for absorbing the shock of the horizontal or edgewise platen movement.

The platen is moved rearwardly in the frame A for line spacing in opposition to the motor 8. This is accomplished by line spacing mechanism which includes a rack 21 extending along the under side of the platen at the left hand edge thereof and engaged by a holding dog 22 and a.spacing dog 23. The dog 22 yields upon the rearward movement of the rack but prevents the forward movement thereof, unless the dog is withdrawn. The spacing dog 23 is normally out of engagement with the rack, being guided by a guide pin 24 and pivoted at one end of an arm 25 carried by a shaft 26 having an arm 27 connected by a link 28 to a line spacing lever 29. The arm 25 and dog 23 are connected and yieldingly held in angular relation by a spring 30, and upon the shaft 26 is coiled a spring 31 which assists in re-' tracting and retaining in normal osition the elements of the spacing mec anism. Associated with the line space lever 29 is an adjustable stop member 32 which engages the frame A to limit the retractile movement of the lever and is secured thereto by screws 33'passed through slots 34 in the member 32. These slots accommodate slight adjustment of the member 32 to secure a slightly variable limit of movement of the lever 29.

The lever 29 is fixed to one end of a sleeve 35 (see Fig. 7), and said sleeve is designed to rotate in a bearing 36 formed on the frame 1 and has an arm 37 in which is mounted a spring urged connecting pin 38 at one end of which is a knurled head 39 by means of which the pin may be retracted to withdraw a latch pin 40 from a recess 41 in the end of the pin hearing 42. Obviously the connecting pin I may be retained in this retracted position by slight turning of the head 39 to move the withdrawn latch pin 40 out of coincidence with the recess 41.

The connecting pin 38 extends into the path of an arm 43 on a line spacing shaft 44, one end of which is extended into the sleeve 35 and the other end of which extends rearwardly along the frame A to a position opposite the carriage B where the shaft is provided With What may be distinguished as an automatic line spacing lever 45 arranged to be engaged and swung by the carriage B, or a part carried thereby. Obviously as the line spacing lever 29 is operated to operate the line spacing mechanism the automatic line spacing lever 45 will not be disturbed, because the connecting pin 38 (see Fig. 8) will merely move away from the arm 43 as the sleeve 35 rotates independently of the shaft 44. If, however, the carriage B is fully retracted the lever 45 will be swung, thus rotating the shaft 44 and causing the arm 43 to engage the pin 38 and swing the arm 37 and with it the line space lever 29 to operate the line spacing mechanism in an obvious manner. Obviously this construction affords means for putting the automatic line spacing mechanism entirely out of action, as this end may be accomplished by retracting the connecting pin 38 and swinging down the lever 45 to an inactive position.

The release of the platen for retraction by its motor, after a given piece of work has been completed, is effected-by means of a release key 46 connected to a lever '47 on the platen supporting frame, which lever is in turn connected b a link 48 with a bell crank lever 49 which is swung by the depression of the release key to withdraw the holding dog 22 from the rack. The release key is held down by a latch 50 automatically operated by a cam 51 movable with the platen frame and engaging a pin 52 to cause the latter to withdraw the lacth 50 from engagement with the stem of the release key. It may be stated in conclusion that this is a companion application of my co-pending application No. 710,804 which has matured intoPatent No. 1,691,236, dated Noin. It is also a companion application of my co-pending applicatlon No. 30,265, which has matured into Patent No. 1,681,978, dated August 28, 1928, in which latter is claimed any patentable novelty that may reside in the particular carriage construction or mounting diagrammatically shown in this instance.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction, operation and advantages of the illustrated structure will be clearly comprehended, but I reserve the ri ht to effect such modifications of this speci c disclosure as may come fairly within the scope of the protection rayed.

What I c aim is:

1. The combination with a frame, of a fiat platen edgewise movable therein, means for depressing the platen from the writing plane during its edgewise movement, and means for absorbing the shock asthe platen comes to rest.

2. The combination with a frame, of a depressible platenedgewise moveable therein, platen depressing means operated by the edgewise movement of the platen, and shock absorbing means coacting with the platen depressing means.

3. The combination with a frame, of a depressible platen edgewise movable therein, a platen depressing yoke operated by the movement of the platen, and means asso ciated with the yoke for absorbing the shock.

incident to the arrest of the platen.

4. The combination with a frame, of a depressible laten edgewise movable therein, 'a platen epressin cam, and means coacting with the cam to epress the platen, saidmeans including provision for cushioning the engagement of said'means with the cam.

5. The combination with a frame and \an edgewise movable laten, of platen depressing mechanism inc uding coactingmembers,

one of which is constructed of cushioning,

material designed to cushion the impact of said members and to create platen retarding frictionas the platen approaches the end of its edgewise movement.

6. The combination with a frame, of a depressible platen movable therein, a platen depressing yoke, blocks of frictional material carried by the blocks.

7. The combination with a frame, of a platen edgewise movable therein, and a spring pressed plunger opposing the final movement of the laten in one direction and means for retarding the platen before the plunger comes into action.

8. The combination with a frame, of a depressible platen edgewise movable therein, a platen depressing yoke, a cam coacting with said yoke, and cams coacting with the yoke to depress the platen, and a shock absorber coacting with the yoke to cushion the final movement of the platen in one direction.

9. The combination with a frame, of a platen edgewise movable therein, a carriage mounted on the frame, line spacing mechanism for the platen, a line spacing lever operated by the carriage, and a second line spacing lever operative independently of the carriage o erated line spacing lever to line space the p aten edgewise.

10. The combination with a frame, of a movableplaten, line spacing mechanism-for the platen, a carriage movable on the frame, a carriage operated line spacing lever, a manually operated line spacing lever, a coupling between said levers, and means for rendering the coupling ineffective.

11. The combination with a frame, of a flat platen edgewise movable in the frame and depressible from the writing plane, means brought into action by the movement of the platen to depress the same, and means likewise brought into action by the movement of the platen to absorb the shock incident to its arrest.

12. In a machine of the class described, a frame, printing mechanism and a platen coacting for letter and line spacing of the record, said platen being edgewise movable for line spacing, means for retracting the platen after such linespacing movement and means for absorbing the shock incident to the termination of such retraction.

13. The combination with a frame, a depressible platen, and a platen mountingmovable on the frame, of a mechanism for both depressing-the platen and retarding movement of the mounting.

14. The combination with a frame, and an edgewise movable platen, of a mechanism for both depressing the platen and retarding its movement and including cooperating meinbers frictionallyengaged by edgewise movement of the platen.

15. In combination, a frame, a platen mountin edgewise movable in said frame, a platen adjustable in the platen mounting, and platen adjusting members on the laten mounting and frame respectively an frictionally engaged by movement of the platen mounting to adjust the platen and retard movement of the mounting.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

- HARRY A. FOOTHORAP. 

